PRESS RELEASE

Colorado to the Core: Mountain Adventurers Wanted.

Unprecedented 14er event challenges the outdoor community to test their grit and show their heart by collectively climbing all 54 14ers in 24 hours as a crowdfunded campaign to end water poverty.

BOULDER, COLO. — This year Colorado’s adventurous-at-heart will seek for a second time to set a mountain climbing record by participating in one of the most unique outdoor adventure challenge events in recent history. Early in the morning on August 8th, men and women across the state will lace up their hiking boots and hit the trails leading to the top of each of Colorado’s 14ers. Each participant will be attempting to climb one 14er with their Summit Team, and the goal of the event is for the group to collectively climb all 54 of these peaks within a 24 hour timespan.

The fundraising event, billed The Colorado 54, is orchestrated by Boulder non-profit Second Mile Water. The organization hopes to provide over 1,000 families in Nicaragua access to clean, safe drinking water with the proceeds. With 54 mountains to climb, The Colorado 54 will set a record as the biggest mountain event of its kind as the group seeks to summit the most 14ers within the shortest amount of time. Each participant may join a Summit Team or start their own, and is asked to create their own campaign goal through their own personalized online campaign page to bring clean water to families in need by crowdfunding through their social networks.

“With The Colorado 54, success will not only be seeing teams wave their summit flags on Ascent Day, but knowing that for each participant climbing with us, waving that flag means that families in Nicaragua will gain permanent access to safe drinking water,” said Travis Ramos, founder of Second Mile Water. “We’ve been working hard all winter to put together an event that not only has a huge impact, but also allows our participants to become part of a bigger community and make a few unforgettable memories together.”

The event is in partnership with Leave No Trace and sponsored by Patagonia Boulder as well as Prana and Newton Running. Registration opened on May 5th. Each participant will also have the opportunity to win prizes for epic 14er achievements (such as the ‘Best Dance Moves above 14,000 Feet” award), including a round trip for two to Nicaragua as well as coveted mountaineering gear donated by sponsors.

The Colorado 54 is an outdoor adventure challenge organized by nonprofit Second Mile Water. The goal of the August 6, 2016 event is to provide access to clean water to over a thousand families in need in Nicaragua by mobilizing the outdoor community to social action via a massive crowdfunding campaign. Second Mile Water is a Boulder-based 501(c)3 nonprofit that exists to provide a permanent end to water poverty in the developing world by inspiring people to social action. For more information visit colorado54.org and secondmilewater.org.